Mets take another tough loss in World Series Game 4

Alex Rios' apparent math mistake didn't add up to a World Series loss for Kansas City.

The Royals right fielder settled under Curtis Granderson's third-inning fly ball to short right field, seemingly ready for the throw home to keep New York's Wilmer Flores from scoring.

Then Rios took a casual step toward the dugout, as if he had thought there were three outs, not two.

In the middle of his second step, Rios threw to the plate, but not in time to get Flores, who came across the plate standing up. Rios' apparent gaffe gave the Mets a two-run lead, but Kansas City rallied for three runs in the eighth inning for a 5-3 victory Saturday night and a 3-1 World Series lead.

Michael Conforto's leadoff home run in the third against Chris Young put the Mets ahead. Flores singled, ending an 0-for-10 Series start, advanced on a wild pitch and was sacrificed to third by pitcher Steven Matz.

Kansas City appealed to umpires over whether Flores left third base early. After a video review of 2 minutes, 22 seconds by umpire Bill Welke, the safe call on the field was allowed to stand.

"The replay official could not definitively determine that the runner left the base prior to the ball touching the fielder's glove," Major League Baseball said in a statement.

Rios has been replaced in right field in 11 of Kansas City's 15 postseason games. While the Royals were cool and assured for the most part at Kauffman Stadium in taking a 2-0 Series lead, defense was shaky at Citi Field.

But now the Royals find themselves one win from their first title since 1985, and two of three potential remaining games would be at home.

That is math Kansas City likes.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.